Chapter 492 Even Without a Ruler, One Can Still Act

Jiang Huan helped He Ling sit down in a chair, then pulled up a chair and sat opposite her, her expression solemn.

"What exactly happened? Tell me in detail."

He Ling closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on sensing the system that had accompanied her through her journey and provided her with countless assistance.

There are no cold, mechanical prompts, no familiar translucent screens, and no clearly categorized function interfaces...

There was nothing there.

There was only a silent darkness, as if it were all just a hallucination.

No, it's not completely nothingness.

Deep within my consciousness, a faint signal seems to linger, like a faulty light bulb, flashing occasionally before disappearing into the darkness, unable to connect or access any function.

She tried calling out in her mind to open the system store, but there was no response.

He Ling opened her eyes, her face pale: "It... seems to have crashed, no, it's half-crashed. The online store is completely inaccessible, many functions are malfunctioning, and I can't even feel its response."

She paused, looked at Jiang Huan, with a last glimmer of hope.

"Your Majesty, can you still hear anything now?"

Jiang Huan listened intently, but at that moment, her mind was completely silent.

She slowly shook her head: "I can't hear it, it's completely quiet."

This confirmation shattered He Ling's last shred of hope.

She slumped back in her chair, her fingers unconsciously clenching the hem of her clothes, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

"What should I do..." she muttered to herself, her eyes unfocused as she stared ahead. "Without the system... what am I? Everything the head of the Ministry of Agriculture does comes from the system. Without it, I'm just an empty shell, capable of nothing..."

Since her transmigration, the system has been her biggest secret and her greatest reliance.

She was already used to asking the system questions, looking up information when she encountered difficulties, and verifying her ideas through the system.

The system not only gave her knowledge, but also gave her the confidence and direction to stand firm in an unfamiliar era.

Now that this foundation has suddenly collapsed, she feels like she's standing on the edge of a cliff with a bottomless abyss below, not knowing where to go or what to do.

Jiang Huan felt a pang of heartache seeing her distraught state.

"He Ling." Jiang Huan reached out and firmly grasped He Ling's trembling hand, her voice clear and resolute, trying to pull her out of her chaotic thoughts, "Look at me!"

He Ling looked at her blankly.

“Listen to me,” Jiang Huan said, her gaze intense, “The system has given you a lot of convenience, but it’s just a tool, like a hoe for a farmer. What truly makes the seedlings grow is the farmer’s hand.”

"You earned your position in the Ministry of Agriculture with tangible results. From seedling cultivation to promotion, you personally oversaw every step of those new crops, leading people in repeated trials, and even personally working in the fields. The system provided you with the seeds, but adapting them to the local soil and water and solving the practical problems encountered was your own responsibility, He Ling!"

"Why does the Emperor trust you? Is it because they know you have a system in your head? No! It's because they see your ability, your dedication, and the effort and sweat you've put into this matter."

Jiang Huan's words were like thunderclaps, cleaving through the fog in He Ling's heart.

She listened intently. Yes, the system had given her knowledge far beyond what was available in this era, but how to transform that knowledge into something applicable to this era was something she had to explore, learn, and overcome little by little.

Those days and nights spent burning the midnight oil to study materials, observing in the fields under the scorching sun, and patiently explaining to others were real experiences she had gone through.

“But…” He Ling’s voice was hoarse, “those deeper knowledge, those crucial data…”

"Then go and learn!" Jiang Huan interrupted her, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "Learn from experienced farmers, learn from ancient agricultural books. Even without a system, you still have eyes to see, hands to take notes, and a brain to think. Didn't you take detailed notes and records before when you relied on the system? Those are your foundation."

Jiang Huan softened her tone, but it was still full of strength: "He Ling, have you forgotten who we are? We are people from another era. We bring different perspectives and ways of thinking. This is our true wealth. Does losing a tool mean we can't walk anymore?"

The confusion in He Ling's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a jolt of realization.

She felt the warmth from Jiang Huan's hand, and her heart, frozen by panic, gradually warmed up and began to beat again.

Yes, she is He Ling, an independent woman from the 21st century, a modern soul who believes in science and dares to try new things.

The system is a cheat code, but it's not her whole story.

She still has hands, a brain, friends she's made in this era, experience she's accumulated, and the partner in front of her who has always supported and understood her.

“You’re right, I can’t let a faulty system defeat me.”

He Ling grasped Jiang Huan's hand in return, her fingertips still trembling, but her eyes had regained their light.

“It’s just malfunctioning now, it’s not gone. Even if… even if it really can’t come back,” He Ling’s voice grew more and more steady, “I can still do things without it.”

Seeing He Ling cheer up again, Jiang Huan finally breathed a sigh of relief and a gratified smile appeared on her face.

“That’s right, that’s the He Ling I know.”

He Ling nodded vigorously. Although she was still worried about the unknown state of the system, the panic of having her backbone removed had faded.

After sitting for a while and drinking some hot tea to calm herself down, He Ling got up to say goodbye.

She needs some time alone to sort out her thoughts and make plans for the work ahead.

Upon returning to her temporary residence in the palace, He Ling dismissed the palace servants.

She sat down at the desk, on which lay a preliminary draft plan for the trial planting of new crops in Jiangnan, analysis records of soil samples collected along the way, and climate summaries of several pilot areas in recent years…

Without a systematic and convenient database and computing functions, these tasks would be a hundred times more difficult, but so what?

He Ling lit another lamp to make the light brighter.

She spread out a brand new sheet of Xuan paper, pressed down the paperweight, and then picked up the charcoal pencil she was used to.

The pen tip landed on the paper, making a soft scratching sound.

The lines may not be as precise as with the system, and the data may need to be repeatedly checked and calculated, but her hands are steady and her eyes are focused.

"Even without a system, I, He Ling, can still live a wonderful life."

Inside Weiyang Palace, after seeing He Ling off, Jiang Huan finally felt a rare moment of peace and quiet.

She dismissed the palace servants, then casually slumped onto the soft couch by the window, hugging a soft pillow, watching the setting sun gradually sink in the west, and let out a long sigh.

Ah... She doesn't have to worry about how to deal with the intricacies of the harem all day long, nor does she have to worry about the political situation in the previous dynasty. Isn't this the kind of life she dreamed of before she transmigrated?

They have a beloved partner, close friends, a stable environment, no worries about food and clothing, and a small business, yet they don't have to work themselves to death.

Jiang Huan squinted her eyes contentedly and shifted into a more comfortable position on the soft couch.

My life's ideal has been realized.